Tradition of eating food with hands

Tradition of eating food with hands:

In majority, people from Asian countries eat with hands. Some say it unhygienic; Some say it’s a bad manner. But, tradition explains it in opposite way "Eating with hands not only feeds body and also feeds soul". According to Ancient Ayurveda, all the nerves connected to main parts of body are interlinked and ends at the hands and feet. Certain postures with figures apply pressure on the connected parts and make them function superior. We also relate it to Acupuncture method of healing and postures(mudras) in classical dances like Bharatanatyam.

Cultural belief:

Fingers are considered as the most vital and precious for any type of action. According to Ancient texts of Ayurveda, each finger is related to one of the five elements. Thumb is fire, Fore finger is Air, Middle finger is ether, Ring finger is earth and little finger is water. You might see small children sucking thumbs which internally aid digestion.

In Hinduism fingers are vital and important parts of body. Below Sanskrit verses explains the importance.

Each finger aids better digestion process by releasing digestive juices and makes the person conscious about taste and smell.

Interesting facts:

• If we eat meals in a plate which is made of pure gold, it will cure all types of disorders in the body and keeps in good health.
• If we eat meals in a plate which is made of Silver, it decreases body heat and always protect eye-sight.
• If we eat meals in a plate which is made of bronze, it enhances the taste and improves brain functionality and removes disorders related to blood.
• If we eat meals in a plate which is made of brass, it removes mucus in lungs and removes worms in stomach.
• If we eat meals in a plate which is made of iron or glass, it cleans the blood and improves the blood and eliminates anemia and blindness
• If we eat meals in a plate which is made with tree bark, it will give additional taste to meal but, it increases mucus in lungs.
• If we eat meals in a plate which is made of tree leaves like banana leaf, it will boost the digestive system and eliminates all disorders in the body and increases immunity power. 
• Water which is stored in copper vessel or mud vessel will heal all the body disorders. 
• Water which is stored in glass vessel will cool the body.

According to Ayurveda, we should take Ginger + Rock salt (1-2grams) before 30min of taking meal. Ginger will eliminate bile secretion disorders. Rock salt will control all disorders, cleans tongue and throat, improves taste in mouth and makes the body ready to take a meal.

We should always pray Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Anjaneya to remove evil eye of others on us while eating.

Scientific Reasons:

Many healthy bacteria live in the body which protects us from outer environment. Normal flora bacteria is one such type which colonizes in different parts of body. When we eat food with our hands these helpful bacteria mix with food and reaches to gut and keeps body healthy. People eating without using hand will always suffer from acute gastroenteritis when sudden change in environment. Whenever figures touches food, signals will reach to brain and brain prepares digestive process to receive and absorb the food by releasing digestive acids. By touching the food with fingers senses can feel the temperature of food what we intake. Taking food with fingers to the mouth and using thumb to push food into mouth without keeping all fingers in mouth is considered as highly beneficial.

If we eat food by sitting on the floor in the posture of Padmasana, it makes you eat according to digestive capacity of stomach and restricts without taking excess food. It improves digestion by producing enough enzymes to digest food in stomach. It relaxes mind by reducing muscular tension and controlling blood pressure.